Toronto MP says he was just joking in crass remark made at Western Wall

TEL AVIV, Israel – Toronto-area MP Mark Adler says he was just joking when he made a crass comment as Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Adler, situated behind barricades at the sacred site earlier this week, pleaded with one of Harper’s aides to let him into the main event.

“It’s the re-election! This is the million-dollar shot!” Adler said.

The MP for York Centre scoffed at reporters on Wednesday when he was asked about the comments in Tel Aviv, where Harper was bestowed with an honorary doctorate from the University of Tel Aviv.

“You guys don’t get a joke, huh? It was all said tongue-in-cheek,” Adler said.

The Prime Minister’s Office denied Adler was in the dog house for his remark, which stood in stark contrast to the triumphant visit Harper made to the Western Wall as throngs of Israelis cheered the prime minister and reached out to touch him as he made his way to and from holy site.